Victorian minister Tim Holding has been airlifted to Melbourne's Alfred Hospital following his dramatic rescue from the state's second highest mountain.
Mr Holding, 37, boarded an air ambulance around midday after enjoying an emotional reunion with his family at Bright Oval.
PHOTOS: Tim Holding found alive
The state water minister was rescued from Mt Feathertop around 10am after the Nine News helicopter spotted him several kilometres from where he was last seen.
On landing at Bright Oval, Mr Holding hugged and kissed his mother Caroline, before being reunited with his father Bruce and partner Ellen Whinnett, a Sunday Herald Sun journalist.
The smiling politician said nothing to the waiting media pack as he was taken to an ambulance.
It was not immediately clear if Mr Holding had any injuries, a Victorian ambulance spokesman said.
Paramedics checked the minister's body temperature and blood sugar levels before taking him to the air ambulance.
Mr Holding's mother Caroline expressed her relief to waiting media at Bright Oval, lauding the efforts of the rescue teams.
"We couldn't be more grateful to you all — thank you ever so much from the bottom of our hearts," she said.
Victorian Deputy Commissioner Kieran Walsh said Mr Holding was found a few kilometres from a shelter called Federation Hut, where he was last seen.
"Tim Holding is alive and well," he said.
"It was just an eyeball ID — I'm not 100 percent sure [who first saw him] but I think it was a TV news crew."
Television crews said they saw Mr Holding smiling in the moments after he was found.
The politician appeared to have strayed from the walking track, according to the reports.
Victorian Premier John Brumby said he was "absolutely delighted" his water minister had been found.
"It's fantastic news," Mr Brumby told reporters in Melbourne.
"I was pretty confident he would walk out … [but] I was pretty anxious about his welfare."
Fellow Victorian minister Lynne Kosky said Mr Holding's colleagues were thrilled.
"I feel like I'm going to have a bit of a cry now," she said.
Mr Holding had set off early on Sunday morning to tackle the mountain alone.
He sent a text message to Ms Whinnett at 6.30pm (AEST) the previous night to say he had arrived at Federation Hut and expected to arrive home at 4pm on Sunday.
He did not return and had last been seen by a group of hikers walking north towards the summit about 8.30am on Sunday.
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